With their glittering designs and classic beauty, vintage cut glass candle holders are as captivating today as they were decades ago. You'll see these lovely decorations in antique shops, at flea markets, and among the heirlooms you inherit, and they can even be worth a pretty penny. Knowing more about what you have can be fascinating and fun.
How to Identify Cut Glass Candle Holders
There are many glass and crystal decorations, so it's easy to get confused about whether you have cut glass or something else. Around the time these candle holders gained popularity, manufacturers were also making a more affordable (and today, generally less valuable) alternative called pressed glass, which was made in molds instead of cut with tools.
Related: Sparkling Cut Glass Patterns, Value, & Identification
To tell if you have real cut glass, check your candleholders carefully:
- Look for sparkle. Cut glass will glitter more than pressed glass because it has sharper facets and points in the design.
- Feel the surface (carefully). Cut glass will feel a little sharper, and pressed glass will have more rounded edges.
- Check for mold lines. Pressed glass usually has lines where the molded glass was fused together, but cut glass usually doesn't.
Some very high-end candle holders are actually made of crystal, which can look similar to cut glass. To see if what you have is crystal, gently tap the candle holder to see if it makes a bell-like sound and examine the weight of the piece. It may be crystal if it's surprisingly heavy for its size and shape.
Styles of Vintage Cut Glass Candle Holders
Cut glass came in tons of gorgeous styles over the years, some dating back more than a century. A few candle holders are named patterns by famous manufacturers, but in many cases, the designs don't carry an official pattern name. Instead, their value and collectibility are more about the type of holder and the age of the piece.
American Brilliant Cut Glass Candle Holders
American brilliant cut glass (ABC, to collectors) is one of the most hotly collected types of glass. Most of it dates from about 1876 to 1917, and there's an endless variety in the patterns. The style is very delicate, with good, clean cuts, and you can tell that a piece dates back to this period because of the fine workmanship. Candle holders from this era are among the most valuable, sometimes selling for hundreds of dollars for a pair.
In addition to the fine workmanship, you'll see characteristics like these:
- Elegant shapes, often for taper candles
- Often in pairs
- Lots of sparkle and varying depths of cuts
- Designed to hold one candle each or sometimes in candelabra form
Art Deco and Mid-Century Candle Holders
Later, the styles of candle holders changed to be more geometric, and the types of candles they held also became more varied. You'll see candle holders for pillar candles and votives, as well as those designed to hold many candles at a time. These styles often have value, although they tend not to be worth as much as earlier examples.
Look for these qualities in a pair of vintage cut glass candlesticks from this era:
- Simpler designs with fewer cuts and less sparkle
- Etched or engraved details in addition to cuts
- Often in pairs, but sometimes a single pillar or taper holder
- Chunkier and less delicate than earlier shapes
Vintage and Antique Glass Candle Holders With Prisms
Some cut glass candle holders also have added decoration, and these can add value as well as sparkle. The key is knowing if they're original. Vintage glass prisms (those adorable chandelier-style crystals) usually hang off the holder directly or hang from a plate under the candle called a bobeche.
Examine them closely to tell if the crystals are old and original to the holder. Look to see if they are cut and have no mold lines. Check for signs of age, like flea bites (tiny chips) or scratches in the glass. Make sure the glass matches the glass of the candleholder, too, unless it's supposed to be a contrasting shade.
Related: Antique Glassware Identification Tips & What to Look For
Tips to Spot Vintage Candle Holders Worth Money
Some mid-century candle holders might only be worth a few dollars at a thrift store, but many older vintage cut glass pieces are actually worth hundreds or even thousands of dollars. Keep these tips in mind to spot the valuable ones.
Know Which Vintage Candlesticks Are Valuable
Get familiar with some example candlestick values to help you compare what yours may be worth. It also helps to know the factors that make them worth so much.
- For example, an American brilliant cut glass candlestick that wasn't part of a set sold for about $150. It was in perfect condition and had lots of pretty sparkle.
- An antique candle holder with silver accents and a cherub decoration sold for about $215. Again, it was not part of a set and was valuable on its own.
- A pair of Bohemian cut glass candlesticks in a ruby red and clear color sold for about $200. Even though they were not as desirable as the American cut glass, they were a pair and were useful for display.
- A pair of mid-century candlesticks in the Hollywood Regency style sold for about $50 because they were not especially old. They had prisms and a charming ornate style.
Understand the Importance of Condition With Cut Glass
Unlike goblets or cups, candlesticks don't tend to get a lot of abuse as part of normal wear and tear. To be worth the most, a candlestick should be in great condition with minimal chips, cracks, scratches, and discoloration. The cut glass should be sharp but not broken anywhere, and it can take a close examination to see some types of damage.
Also, know that a pair of candlesticks is usually worth more than one would be on its own. The same goes for candlesticks with matching elements, like bud vases or platters, that can be used as centerpieces.
Spot Pretty Pieces That Are Usable Today
The most valuable vintage cut glass candlesticks work just as well on your table today as they did on your grandma's table decades ago. To be worth a lot, the candlesticks should be attractive and worthy of display. If you think it's pretty, chances are other people will too.
Candlesticks Are Always a Sparkling Treasure
Whether you're shopping your china cabinet or the nearest thrift store, finding vintage cut glass candlesticks is always like finding treasure. They're almost always worth at least a few dollars and add so much decorative beauty to any table. It's an instant way to fancy up a dinner or give your holiday decorations a sophisticated polish.
